Double mixing valve



y 1951 L. A. KEMPTON 2,553,769

DOUBLE MIXING VALVE Filed Jan. 2, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet l a; as 126 ,3;

- INVENTOR. L 5.91.15 14. A EMP ro/v y 22, 1951- L. A. KEMPTON DOUBLE MIXING VALVE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 2, 1947 rlllllllllllllllL INVENTOR. Lssz. 1e ,4. (e-M270 Fi led Jan. 2, 1947 May 22, 1951 L. A. KEMPTON 2,553,769

DOUBLE MIXING VALVE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

L552 1274 wr ra/v y 1951 A. KEMPTON 2,553,769

DOUBLE MIXING VALVE Filed Jan. 2, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 l8 54/ 5 b1 1? g llllll llllllll i 1 v IN VEN TOR.

May 1951 A. KEMPTON 2,553,769

DOUBLE MIXING VALVE Filed Jan. 2, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. 4534/; A (-M rv/v stood by reference to Figures 4 and 5 which are cross-sectional views through sections IV-IV, Figure 3, and V-V, Figure 2, respectively. As will be evident from Figure 4, cold fluid inlet member 36 is attached to cover 48 and resilient spacer 68 by holding member 52. Similarly, member 28 is attached to cover member 48 and resilient spacer 66 by holding members 62 and 520.. As shown in the drawings, members 52 and 62a each consists of a pipe portion having an extending flange on either end so as to hold members 28 and 30 firmly in engagement with cover member 48 while permitting fluid flow from members 28 and 30. Fluid passage member 54 contains drawn portions 56 and 56a which form fluid passageways to contain the check valves shown generally at 58 and 58a. Check valve 58 consists of retaining members 68 and 62 in engagement with the inner surface of portion 56 of member 64, together with spring 64 and valve plate 66. In operation, if the'fluid pressure in member 39, Figure 4, exceeds the pressure on member '66 associated with the bias force or" spring 64 acting against member 62, together with the fluid pressure in the region about spring 64, member-66 swings to the open position and fluid passes therethrough. On the other hand, if the fluid pressure in member 39 is less than the pressure associated with the spring bias, together with the counterpressure of fluid about spring 64, the member 66 remains closed and no fluid flow can take place. Members 66a, 62a, 66a and spring 64a. form a similar check valve within portion 66a of member 54. This acts in the same manner as the check valve within portion 56 to permit passage of fluid flow therethrough in one direction only and then only if suitable pressure is applied.

As shown in Figure 4, the portion 56 of member 54 terminates in passage member 42 which defines a passage against the side of body 29' to convey fluid to opening 63 in that .member. Similarly, the portion 56a of member 54 terminates in an opening containing pipe 44 which is in communication with opening 61 of body 26. Thus, fluid can flow to the cavity 68 of member 20 either from member 36 through opening 63 or from member 28 through opening 61. Gasket 43 is provided between member 42 and body 26 toavoid fluid leakage about the connection between these two members.

It is the function of the apparatus contained within the lower portion of cavity 68 of body 28 automatically to mix the fluidstreams from inlets 28 and 36 to provide a fluid of desired temperature. To this end, a temperature sensitive element, shown generally at 18, is provided, this element being of the type wherein the length varies in accordance with the temperature. This member is contained Within housing 12 and is held in place by engagement between the annular extension 14 and the retainer I6. The latter member is biased by spring l8 so as continually to urge extension 14 in a downward direction relative to the main body of temperature sensitive element 10, thus holding this element in position by the engagement thereof with the inwardly extending portion 13 of housing 12. Extension 89 of temperature sensitive element 79 is held in threaded engagement with collar 82, this collar being attached to valve or flow adjusting member 84 by engagement with the inner cap portion 83 of that member. Spring 86 biases member 84 in the upward direction as seen in Figure 4 so as to oppose the action of element i6 and to return valve 84 to the upward posi tion as element 18 contracts. Member 88 is a flexible boot of rubber or similar material which passes over the upwardly extending portion 85 of member 84 and is anchored by engagement of the annular extension 96 with the outwardly recessed portion 9| of cavity '68. Boot 88 is constructed so that it is stretched in the position shown in Figure 4, thus downwardly biasing valve 84 and causing the boot to follow downward motion of valve 84 and provide an annular opening between the inner surface of the aperture 63 and cavity 68 when member 84 moves down.- wardly.

Spring 86 is restrained at its lower end by closure member 92 which is attached to the bottom end of body 28. Closure member 92 also contains adjusting member 94 which is held tightly in place by engagement of its threaded portion with nut 96 and gasket 98. By removing nut 96 and inserting a screw driver in the opening of member 64 to fotate portion of element 16, it is possible to adjust the position of member 84 relative to control element 18 and thus to vary the temperature of the regulated fluid within cavity 68.

Control element 16 may be any of the various types well known in the art in which the length varies with the temperature changes. The particular structure shown in the figure is adapted to be used in the so called Vernet type element in which the length change in temperature results from change in the crystal structure of a substance contained within the unit. This change or transformation produces powerful expanding action which is exerted between the annular extension 14 and the extension 88, thereby controlling the position of member 84.

In the operation of the above described mechanism to maintain fluid at constant temperature within cavity 68, the temperature sensitive element In experiences increased length between annular extension 14 and extension 80 when the fluid temperature rises. This forces flow adjusting member 84 downwardly against the action of spring 86, thus closing the opening between aperture 61 and cavity 68, thereby reducing the supply of hot water to cavity 68 and reducing the fluid temperature therein. Simultaneously, the upper portion of flow adjusting member 84 moves downwardly to cause the rubber boot 88 to provide a passage of greater area between the downwardly extending portion 15 of housing 12 and the upper surface of boot 88, thus to enable greater flow of cold fluid from passage 63 to cavity 68. Thus, any tendency of the fluid within cavity 68 to increase in temperature is counterbalanced by decreased flow of hot fluid thereto and increased flow of cold fluid. Similarly, if the temperature within cavity 68 decreases relatively more hot fluid is supplied thereto than cold fluid. The unit accordingly acts to maintain constant fluid temperature within the cavity.

If for any reason such as loss of cold fluid supply, the temperature within cavity 68 should become uncontrollably great, damage to the unit from excessive expansion between annular extension 14 and extension 89 is avoided by compression of spring 18. Thus, this spring not only acts as a means to hold unit 18 in place but also acts as a safety device to prevent damage to the unit from the excessive temperatures.

Housing 12 is restrained'from upward motion in cavity 68 by washer I06 which contains an aperture to provide for passage of fluid and forms an inwardly directed flange about that passage. The outer rim of washer I08 engages wall IIII of cavity 68, this wall being formed between the adjacent cylindrical bores of different size at this portion of the cavity. From the upper portion of cavity 68, fluid passes to outlet pipe I42 through the fluid operated cut-off valve comprising flexible member I04, insert I06 and outlet pipe I08. Actuating member H permits selective opening and closing of the fluid operated shut-01f valve system.

The fluid operated shut-oil" valve portion of the mixing system is shown in the shut-off condition in Figure 4. In this condition, the fluid pressure within cavity 68 is communicated to chamber H2 .by a small opening H4 in flexible member I04. So long as little fluid flow takes place the pressure drop through opening H4 is small and the total downward force of the central portion of member Hi4 due to the fluid pressure of the upper surface H5 exceeds the net upward force associated with the pressure on the under surface H6. This results from the fact that no significant pressure exists in pipe I08 while substantially the same pressure exists in chambers 68 and H2 by reason of passage. H4. If, however, member H0 is moved in the upward direction, as, for example, by the pull associated with a current carrying solenoid wound about member 38, the passage within portion I06 of flexible member I534 is opened and fluid flows therethrough from chamber H2. Fluid likewise flows through opening I I4 in member I04. Inasmuch as the opening H4 is incapable of passing much fluid without considerable pressure drop, the pressure within chamber H2 is greatly decreased relative to the pressure in chamber 68 and a net upward force acting upon flexible member I64 is produced. This causes member I04 to rise, thereby opening a fluid passage between the under surface thereof and the lip portion of pipe Hi8. Fluid thenv flows through this passage to outlet pipe I62.

Further details of the construction of the fluid control valve will be evident from examination of Figure 5 which shows a cross-sectional view through section V-V, Figure 2. In this view, body a is shown as well as body 20. The former body contains a cavity 68a similar to the cavity 68 in body 20. In addition, temperature control and fluid control elements are disposed within this chamber in the same way as in the case of cavity 68 and operate in thesame manner. Elements corresponding to those above described with reference to cavity 68 are therefore-indicated by corresponding numerals with the suffix a added and the operation thereof will be evident from the above description with reference to cavity 68. Similarly, a fluid operated shut-off valve is provided at the -upper end of cavity 68a, this valve having the same mode of operation as the valve described above with reference to Figure 4 and corresponding parts are indicated by the sufflx a.

The dotted lines of Figure 5 further show sole noids I28 and I38 disposed about members 36 and 38, respectively. Current flow in either of these solenoids produces a magnetic field tending to raise member I II] or member I Illa, thereby controlling the entrance of fluid to outlet pipe I02. Thus, if current flows in solenoid I28 only,. the fluid temperature in outlet passage I24 willbe that corresponding to fluid within cavity' 68 of. body 20, whereas if current flow' takes place'in.

both solenoids, the temperature of the fluid in the outlet passage I24 will be modified by the.

fluid flow through member I08a. Similarly, if current flow is through solenoid I28 only, the temperature of the fluid in passage I24 will correspond with the temperature in cavity 63a. Thus, current flow through the solenoids controls the temperature of the outlet fluid.

It will be observed that a common fluid outlet from the cavities es and 68a in members 20 and 20a, respectively, is provided by ipe I02. Fluid from the cavities is selectively admitted to this pipe by means of the fluid operated cut-off valves connected to feed pipes I08 and IBM. As will be described in further detail hereafter, this construction provides a high degree of simplicity as pipe I92 may be inserted into a cylindrical opening provided for the purpose through body members 20 and 20a.

A resilient annulus I26 is located between pipe I 02 and member 24 so as to control the total amount of fluid flow from the valve unit. The metering or flow control action of annulus I23 results from the fact that increased pressure within pipe I42 results in deformation of the annulus so as to'reduce the minimum area of the opening therein and hence tend to maintain constant fluid flow through passage I24. That is, as the pressure in passage I02 increases relative to the pressure in passage I24, thereby tending to increase the fluid flow through annulus I26, the annulus deflects in accordance with the pressure and produces a restricted passage capable of passing only a limited amount of fluid. By proper design of the annulus I26 relatively to the physical characteristics of the material of which it is formed, the fluid flow can be made nearly independent of the pressure in member I82 as compared with the pressure in passage I24.

As shown in Figure 5, closure I34 defines the chambers H2 and H2a above the cavities 68 and 68a, respectively. This closure further holds members 36 and 38 in place as well as anchoring flexible members I64 and I04a. As shown in Figure l, closure I34 is attached to bodies 26 and 29a by screws I36 and I38, respectively, thus anchoring this member relative to bodies 29 and 20a and holding these bodies in fixed position relative to each other.

As shown in Figure 2, member 24 is attached to body 24a by screws I40. ,S-imilarly, cover 48 is attached to bodies 2B and 2011 by screws !32 and I33, respectively, each of these screws engaging a threaded opening in the corresponding body. Hollow rods I35, Figures 4 and 6, provide the requisite spacing between cover 48 and bodies 24 and 20a. It will be observed that cover 43 supplements the action of closure member 13d in holding members 20 and 20a in spaced relationship with each other.

Figure 6 shows how the members 28 and 39 are arranged to admit fluid to both cavity 68 and cavity 68a. This view is a cross section view through line VI-VI, Figure 3, and, while it specifically shows the arrangement with respect to member 23, it likewise shows the arrangement with respect to member 30 which is substantially identical therewith. As shown in Figure 6, the member 54 has, in addition to drawn portion Sea, a corresponding drawn portion 56b, terminating in pipe 441) similar to pipe '44. The former pipe is in communication with opening 61a in body 2060 in the same manner that pipe 44 is in communication with opening 61 in body 26. Thus fluid can flow from member 28 either to opening 61 of body 20 or passage 61a of body 20a. The fluid check valve shown generally at 582) is similar in construction to that shown at 58a and enables independent fluid flow to the openings 61 and 61a. A similar arrangement of elements is provided to convey fluid from member 36 to flow passage 63 of body 26 and passage 63a of body 20a, thereby allowing fluid flow to both passages.

The construction of members 48, 54 and 42 can best be understood by reference to Figures 9, 10 and 11, which are plan views of these members. As shown in Figure 9, member 48 is provided with a plurality of openings I52 to accommodate screws I32 and I33, together with openings I54 to accommodate members 52 and 52a, respectively. In addition projections I56 are provided to secure members 28 and 36 from rotation relative to member 48 and the body of the complete valve unit. These projections fit into corresponding depressions in members 28 and 30, as shown in Figure '7.

Figure 10 shows a plan view of member 54. As shown in this view, this member has four drawn portions, 56, 55a, 55b and 56d. Each of these is of size to accommodate a check valve and terminates as shown in Figures 4 and 6, in an opening of siz to accommodate pipes 44, 4422, the opening 43 in member 42, Figure 11, or the opening 43a in member 42. Between drawn portions 56 and 56b and drawn portions 56a and 551) are located partially drawn portions 51 and 51a which constitute regions of partial inward extension. The amount of depression of these portions, relative to portions 56, 56a, 55b and 55d will be evident from Figure 6 which shows a cross section view of this unit along the axis of portion 'Ia. In addition, member 54 has openings I58 to accommodate screws I32 and I33.

Figure 11 is a plan view of valve passage member 42. As shown in this view, this member has openings 43 and 43a to accommodate the lips of drawn portions 56 and 56d of member 54. Drawn portions 45 and 45a surround openings 43 and 43a. As will be evident from Figure 4, portions 45 and 45a, acting in conjunction with the drawn portions 56 and 56d of member 54, together with the sides of members 26 and 25a define a fluid passageway from member 30 to openings 53 and 63a in body members 26 and 20a, respectively. This permits passage of fluid from member 26 to cavities 66 and 68a through openings 63 and 63a, respectively. Member 42 is further provided with holes I62 to accommodate screws which hold it in place relative to body members 25 and 25a.

The method of constructing the fluid control valve of Figures 1 to 5 is illustrated in Figures '7 and 8 which correspond to Figures 4 and 5, respectively, but show the parts in spaced or exploded relationship. As shown in Figure 7, the cavity 63 in body 25 is symmetrical about the axis through that member except for apertures 63 and 6'! and the opening containing pipe I62. Thus, this cavity may be machined by simple machining operations as, for example, by mounting body 25 to rotate on a lathe and inserting the cutting member of the lathe inside body 20 to cut cavity 68 in accordance with the desired shape. It will be observed that the cutting operation only requires different diameters of out about the same axis, an operation that is relatively simple to perform. The annular portions of openings 63 and 6? may be made in this fashion while the communicating portions for connection of pipe 44 and member 42, together with the opening required for pipe I I8, may be drilled, the axis of the drill being normal to the axis of cavity 68. From Figure 8 it will be evident that cavity 68a and body 2011 may be similarly produced, since this cavity includes only cylindrical sections symmetrical about the axis therethrough and corresponding with the sections of cavity 68 of body 20.

Figures 7 and 8 further show the assembly of elements within cavities 68 and 68a. These members are all loosely mounted within these cavities and held in place by their mutual engagement when closure members 92 and 92a are attached to bodies 20 and 20a by screws I46, Figure 2. Thus, the assembly operation may be completed by simply arranging the elements as shown in Figure 7 and pressing them together to the condition of Figures 4 and 5 by fixing closure members 92 and 92a in place. Inasmuch as none of the elements require fixed angular relationship with respect to each other, and the desired axial alignment is easily produced as the elements are compressed, this assembly operation requires no time consuming exact positioning of the parts and lends itself to a mass production assembly.

The assembly of members 30, 28, 48, 54, and 42 is shown in Figure 7. As shown in this figure, pipe 52 may be passed through the opening 3| of member 30, through the opening I54, Figure 9, of member 48 and washer 53 and the end peened over to anchor the complete unit in place. The completed assembly is shown in Figure 4. After this assembly, elements 65, 66, 64 and 62 may be inserted in portion 56 of member 54. A convenient method of holding these members in place is to construct them to achi ve a tight mechanical fit between members and 62 and portion 56 of member 54. Alternatively, anchoring means, such as depressions pounded in portion 56 of member 54 after members 65 and 62 are in place may be used. Member 42, together with flexible washer 43, then may be attached to members 25 and 20a by screws through openings I62, Figure 11. It is then possible to complete the assembly by screws I52 and I33, together with rods I35 as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 8 shows how closure member I34, to-' gether with members 36 and 38, diaphragms I54 and IBM, and pipes I08 and W341 may be assembled and held in place by screws I36 and I38, Figure 1. In addition, this View shows how pipe I02 may be inserted through aligned openings in members 20 and 20a. As is fully evident from this figure, member 24, when attached to member 20a. by screws I40, Figure 2, holds the resilient annulus I26 in place.

Gaskets I42 are provided between the various components in the valve to prevent leakage of fluid therebetween, thereby avoiding the need for precise mechanical fittings to avoid leakage.

From the above description it will be evident that m invention provides an improved double type fluid mixing valve wherein no castings are required and which may be assembled with ease.

In particular, the various components used in' the valve such as members I04 and 164a, springs 86 and 86a, resilient annulus I26, etc., may be standard parts used in this type of valve as well as other valves intended for similar or related purposes. Special members, such as 42, 46, 54, and I34 may be stamped from sheet metal by rapid low cost mass production methods. Finally, the bodies 20 and 20a may be produced :1 9 from standardmetal" stockby simple machining operations. The net result of this construction, as contrasted with the castings heretofore used, is to reduce the cost of the completed valve to as little as one-half the 'cost of the equivalent valve using castings.

It will further be observed that the surfaces exposed to fluid flow within the valve are all machined surfaces that may be readily machined to a smooth condition, thereby offering minimum impedance to the passage of fluid therethrough and introducing the least'possible tendency towards deposit thereon of undesired material from the fluid.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications both in the elements employed and the co-operative relation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I, of course, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by letters patent of the United States is:

1. In a valve structure, a hollow valve body having two inner wall portions defining a plurality of valve chambers each having a valve element slidable therein and having inlets into said chambers from a common plane surface of said valve body and each having an outlet therefrom, a cover member detachably mounted on said valve body and affording fluid tight passageways into said chambers from a common fluid inlet, said cover member having a closure plate spaced from said valve body, a fluid inlet through said cover member, and a passageway defining member interposed between the inside of said cover member and said valve body and including an outer flanged portion engageable with the inside of said cover member and two spaced annular chamber-like portions extending therefrom and having communication with and interengaging connection with said inlets through said valve body, and said passageway defining member being so constructed and arranged with respect to said cover member and valve body that securing of said cover member to said valve body will maintain said passageway defining member in fluid tight engagement therewith and with said passageways into said valve body.

2. A valve structure comprising a hollow valve body having two inner side walls defining valve chambers and having inlets into said valve chambers from a common wall thereof, and each chamber having an outlet from an end thereof and a valve element therein, a cover member detachably mounted on said valve body and having a closure plate spaced from said valve body, a fluid inlet through said cover member and a passageway defining member interposed between the inside of said cover member and said common wall and having a peripheral flange adapted to have fluid tight engagement with the inside of said cover and having two spaced annular drawn chamber like portions extending therefrom, having relatively large receiving ends and reduced discharge ends having interengaging connection with said inlets into said valve body, said cover member and passageway defining member forming a detachable manifold for said valve block, and said fluid tight connections being maintained by engagement of said cover member with said passage defining members.

3. A valve structure comprising a hollow valve body having two inner side walls defining valve chambers having valve elements therein and having inlets into said valve chambers from a common wall thereof and each having outlets therefrom, a cover member for said common wall of said valve body having a closure plate spaced from said valve body, a fluid inlet through said closure plate, and means interposed between the inside of said closure plate and said common wall and maintaining fluid tight passageways between .said inlet through said closure plate to said inlets into said valve body, includ: ing a passageway defining member having a peripheral flange adapted to have fluid tight engagement with the inside of said cover and having two spaced annular drawn chamber-like portions extending therefrom and having relatively large receiving ends and reduced discharge ends, fluid conducting members connected to said reduced discharge ends and an interengaging connection between said fluid conducting members and said inlets into said valve body.

4. A valve structure comprising two hollow valve bodies the inner walls of which define mixing chambers having valve elements therein, fluid inlets opening from a common plane outer surface into said chambers, fluid outlets from said chambers, and means providing a common inlet passageway through both of said inlets from a source of fluid supply and securing said valve bodies in aligned relation with respect to each other including a cover member having a closure plate spaced from said valve bodies, and having depending side walls adapted to have engagement with the common plane surface to said valve bodies, an inlet through said closure plate, and a passageway defining member abutting the inside of said closure plate at one of its sides in communication with said inlet and maintained in fluid tight engagement therewith by engagement of said cover member with said valve bodies, said passageway defining member having two spaced inwardly extending wall portions having inter-engaging connection with said inlets into said valve bodies and held in engagement therewith by said cover member and defining passageways from said inlet through said closure plate to said inlets to said valve chambers, and maintaining said valve chambers in aligned relation with respect to each other.

5. In a valve structure, twohollow valve bodies having plane outer surfaces adapted to be held in abutting relation with respect to each other and a common plane outer surface perpendicular to said abutting plane surface, said valve bodies having inner walls defining valve chambers having valve elements therein and each having an inlet from said common plane surface into said chambers and having outlets therefrom, and means providing a common fluid passageway from a source of fluid supply through said inlets into said chambers including a cover member having a closure plate spaced from said valve bodies and having side walls extending therefrom and adapted to have engagement with the common plane outer surface thereof, and a passageway defining member having a peripheral flanged portion abutting and having fluid tight engagement with the inside of said closure plate, and having a central portion spaced from said closure plate having two annular chamber like portions extending therefrom with reduced annular end portions having inter-engaging connection with said: inlets into said valve bodies and serving to hold said valve bodies in aligned relation: with respect thereto and to afford inlets thereinto, andmeans securing said closure memher to said valve bodies and holding said passageway defining member influid tight engagemerits therewith,

LESLIE A. KEMPTON.

REFERENCES CITED Thfol lbwi'ng references are of record in the fife (if this pafienfi:

Number v 821,827 1,342,719 1,797,591 1,954,903

UNITED STATES PATENTS I Name Date Penberthy May 29, 1906 Rodriguez June 8, 1920 Sartakoff Mar. 24, 1931 Walker Apr. 17, 1934 Karm'azin June 30, 1936 Twyman June 24', 1941 Kohlmann Aug. 4, 1942 Bauman Apr; 2'7, 1943 Chace June15', 1943 Edwards Aug. 19, 1947 Vicfioreen Dec. 14, 1948 

